Cleaning the Beach
Read Text C, and then answer Questions 2(a)-(d) and Question 3 on the question paper.
Cleaning the Beach
1
As I stood on the edge of the beach, the salty breeze tousled my hair, and I felt invigorated by the sound of the waves crashing against the shore. Today was the day I had decided to clean up this beautiful stretch of sand, a small effort to contribute to the environment and the community. The sun was just rising, casting a golden hue across the ocean, and I could see a few early morning joggers in the distance.
2
"Hey! Are you really going to clean this whole beach by yourself?" a voice called out. I turned to see my friend Sam approaching, a curious look on his face.
3
"Well, I might need some help," I replied with a grin. "But I'm determined to make a difference, even if it's just a small one." I picked up my trash bag, ready to tackle the litter that had accumulated overnight, and Sam joined me, grabbing a second bag.
4
As we walked along the shoreline, I noticed the various types of rubbish strewn across the sand—plastic bottles, wrappers, and even a forgotten flip-flop. "It's shocking how much trash people leave behind," I said, shaking my head in disbelief. "We need to do better."
5
Sam nodded, picking up a discarded water bottle. "It's easy to forget how our actions impact the environment. Every small effort counts, right?"
6
"Exactly!" I exclaimed, feeling a sense of purpose wash over me. "If everyone took a little time to clean up, imagine how much cleaner our beaches would be." We continued our work, chatting and laughing as we filled our bags. It felt good to be doing something positive.
7
After an hour, we took a break, sitting on the sand and admiring our progress. "Look at all this rubbish we've collected!" I said proudly, gesturing to the two bulging bags beside us. "It's hard to believe this was all here."
8
"And just think, this is only a small part of the beach," Sam replied. "There's so much more that needs to be done. Maybe we should organise a community clean-up."
9
"That's a great idea!" I agreed. "We could invite our friends and even put up flyers. The more people we get involved, the bigger impact we can make."
10
Feeling inspired, we decided to head back to my house to brainstorm ideas for our clean-up campaign. As we walked, I could see more people arriving at the beach, families setting up for a day of fun in the sun. I hoped they would appreciate the effort we were putting in.
11
Later that day, we sat at my kitchen table, surrounded by snacks and brainstorming materials. "What should we call our campaign?" I asked, scribbling ideas on a notepad.
12
"How about ‘Beach Buddies'?" Sam suggested. "It's friendly and inviting!"
13
"I love it!" I replied, feeling excited about our project. We spent the afternoon planning, deciding on a date for the clean-up and how we would promote it. By the time the sun began to set, we had a solid plan in place.
14
As we wrapped up, I felt a sense of accomplishment. Not only had we cleaned part of the beach, but we were also taking steps to engage our community in protecting our environment. "This is just the beginning," I said, smiling at Sam. "Together, we can make a real difference."
15
"Absolutely," he replied. "And who knows? Maybe this will inspire others to take action too."
16
With that thought in mind, we left the kitchen, eager to share our plans with our friends and get the community involved. Cleaning the beach was just the first step; we were ready to inspire change.
Question 2(a)
Identify a word or phrase from the text which suggests the same idea as the words in bold.
Identify a word or phrase from the text which suggests the same idea as the words in bold.
(i) I felt a strong sense of purpose as I picked up the litter on the beach. [1 mark]
(ii) The beach was filled with rubbish left behind by careless visitors. [1 mark]
(iii) I was eager to contribute to our community’s well-being. [1 mark]
(iv) We decided to organise a clean-up event for the beach. [1 mark]
Question 2(b)
Using your own words, explain what the writer means by the words in bold:
Using your own words, explain what the writer means by the words in bold:
"It's shocking how much trash people leave behind," I said, shaking my head in disbelief. "We need to do better."
Sam nodded, picking up a discarded water bottle. "It's easy to forget how our actions impact the environment. Every small effort counts, right?"
"Exactly!" I exclaimed, feeling a sense of purpose wash over me. "If everyone took a little time to clean up, imagine how much cleaner our beaches would be."
Sam nodded, picking up a discarded water bottle. "It's easy to forget how our actions impact the environment. Every small effort counts, right?"
"Exactly!" I exclaimed, feeling a sense of purpose wash over me. "If everyone took a little time to clean up, imagine how much cleaner our beaches would be."
(i) **shocking** [1 mark]
(ii) **impact** [1 mark]
(iii) **purpose** [1 mark]
Question 2(c)
Use one example from the text below to explain how the writer conveys the importance of community involvement in environmental efforts. [3 Marks]
Use one example from the text below to explain how the writer conveys the importance of community involvement in environmental efforts. [3 Marks]
"And just think, this is only a small part of the beach," Sam replied. "There's so much more that needs to be done. Maybe we should organise a community clean-up."
"That's a great idea!" I agreed. "We could invite our friends and even put up flyers. The more people we get involved, the bigger impact we can make."
Question 2(d)
Explain how the writer uses language to convey meaning and to create effect in the following paragraphs. Choose three examples of words or phrases from each paragraph to support your answer. Your choices should include the use of imagery. Write about 200 to 300 words. [15 Marks]
Explain how the writer uses language to convey meaning and to create effect in the following paragraphs. Choose three examples of words or phrases from each paragraph to support your answer. Your choices should include the use of imagery. Write about 200 to 300 words. [15 Marks]
Paragraph 1: “As I stood on the edge…”
Paragraph 2: “It's shocking how much trash…”
Paragraph 2: “It's shocking how much trash…”
Question 3
You are a student who has just participated in a beach clean-up with your friend. You have decided to write a letter to your school principal to propose a community clean-up campaign to engage more students and families in environmental efforts.
- Explain the importance of keeping the beach clean and how it affects the community.
- Suggest organising a community clean-up event and how it can involve students and families.
- Propose ideas for promoting the event to encourage participation.
In your letter, you should:
Write the words of the letter.
Write about 250 to 300 words. (15 Marks)